Jackson County — along with the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Solid-Waste Management District and the cities of Blue Springs, Grain Valley and Oak Grove — received a grant from the MARC Solid Waste Management District to develop the site. Jackson County designated the land near Pink Hill and Ketterman roads.

Large trucks, trailers and commercial users are welcome during regular operating hours.

Fees start at $1 a bag for Jackson County residents and range up to $25 a cubic yard for non-residents or commercial users. Users must pay be credit or debit card, not cash.

Learn more at www.jacksongov.org/yardwaste.

SummitFest is Saturday

The community is invited Saturday to SummitFest, a family evening hosted by a dozen churches to benefit Lee’s Summit Social Services.

The free event includes live music, refreshments and inflatables for kids. The evening will end with a strength demonstration and uplifting message from Team Xtreme, which describes itself as “a group of world class athletes, conditioning experts and power lifters with a concern for today’s young generations.”

SummitFest will be from 6-9 p.m. at the Legacy Park Amphitheater, 901 Bluestem Drive. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and a nonperishable food item or financial contribution for Lee’s Summit Social Services.

Fishing tips for families

The Missouri Department of Conservation is offering a new program of fishing instruction for kids and families. Its Discover Nature Fishing Program is free, and the first session is June 21 the Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center in Blue Springs.

The program consists of four classes:

Session one: Equipment, casting and proper fish handling.

Session two: How to rig a pole with tackle such as hooks, sinkers and bobbers, and how to bait a hook and what bait works for which fish species.

Session three: Aquatic biology, ecology and conservation.

Session four: How and when to use various types of artificial lures.

Sessions one and two will be presented from 9 a.m. to noon June 21 to the first 25 people who register by calling 816-622-0900.

Watch for notices of future sessions.

PorchFest brings music to KC neighborhood

PorchFest KC is coming to the West Plaza neighborhood of Kansas City on Saturday. The event will feature more than five dozen bands performing from the front porches of more than 30 homes in an 18-block area of the neighborhood.

Audiences will listen from lawns and sidewalks in front of the homes. The event is free, but bands will accept tips. In the event of rain, the festival will be on Sunday.

Music styles will range from traditional folk and country to jazz, blues, bluegrass, rock and Americana. Several out-of-town bands will be part of the festival. Among the local bands who will perform are Blackbird Revue, Maria the Mexican, David George and A Crooked Mile, John McKenna, the Rural Grit Allstars, Mikal Shapiro, Kasey Rausch, Project H, the KCYA Youth Garage Band, Scarlet Town, Doug Nelson and Front Porch 40s.

For more information and for a full list of performers, visit porchfestkc.com.

| Timothy Finn, tfinn@kcstar

GloBall is Saturday night

If you’re a fan of Exchange City and EarthWorks, whose programs reach children in second through eighth grades, you can help support their efforts by attending the GloBall on Saturday.

The event will start at 6 p.m. in the Hunt Midwest Caves, where Exchange City and EarthWorks are located. Ticket prices are $40 per person, and proceeds will help more children attend the two programs. Jasper’s will be catering, and there will be performances by the Lee’s Summit Symphony as well as DJ Vinyl Richie. Attire is “funky formal.”

For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.tlekc.org or call Jeni Christian-Swafford at 816-659-8543.

Students in EarthWorks interact with live animals native to the Midwest in a five-habitat laboratory. Exchange City offers hands-on learning for children focusing on economics, math and communications as they run their own mock city.

County offering free passes for military

Every Wednesday is “Military Appreciation Day” at Jackson County Parks and Recreation facilities.

Through Veterans Day, current and former members of the Armed Services can receive free admission on Wednesdays to Jackson County beaches, the historic sites at Missouri Town and Fort Osage, boat rides at the marinas, and free greens fees at the Fred Arbanas Golf Course.

The passes will be given to anyone presenting a valid Military ID Card, Veteran Identification Card or other appropriate identification.

A globe created by Holly Hughes from all recycled goods is one of the attractions at EarthWorks.
TLE